Thursday, May 31. 2012

There was a lot of work done and a lot accomplished in the last week. Stay tuned as I hope to find time to post extensive updates.

Stakes

Dan Fenlaciki was at the big bandsaw cutting new stakes for a flatcar project being managed by Mark Secco. I think this is for CGW W 52 which acts as a crane tender car.

Wear Plates

Gerry Dettlof and John Faulhaber are installing steel plates to either side of the freight door on Lake Shore Electric 810. Their purpose is to minimize damage, dents, and dings when freight is loaded or unloaded from this traction trailer.

Left Side

Gerry continued with installation of the second steel panel to the left of the door.

Herald

I was caught in the act of painting the second Great Northern herald on our GN 70104 hopper car.

In the Clouds

Frank Kehoe had his head in the clouds as I caught his good side in the viewfinder. L car CRT 1797 was 'modernized' in the 1930's with a drop ceiling. Years of crud, dirt and debris have accumulated, and he was diligently applying the shop vacuum to improve the situation.

On the Roof

Tim Peters, meanwhile, is applying the finishing touches to the completed roof of the 1797. A lot of work, a lot of parts and paint, and an uncommon persistence to finish the job. Usually the phrase "Petering out" means you are fading in the mission. Not so with Tim Peters.

Tuesday, May 22. 2012

It is tradition that we remember the sacrifices of our servicemen and women this weekend, but it also marks the 30th anniversary of a very significant milestone in the growth and development of IRM. The button on the hat above was issued May 31, 1982 marking the opening of a mainline extension project that added over a mile of operations to IRM. Note to self: Do not try to take a picture of a white button on a black hat.

One Done

Part of the reason this report is late this week is that I have spent the last three days at IRM striving to get the lettering completed on our hopper, Great Northern 70104. That, and very balky computer this AM. But the first herald is done and this completes all lettering on the right side of the car.

Onward

The transfer pattern we created is in place on the second or left side and ready to move onward. The pattern was traced and the inner black circle has been painted.

Side Patch

Victor Humphreys is at the drill press fabricating the second side patch for our B&O wagon top boxcar.

Dust Shields

The set of eight new dust shields has been finished, and ready to have a coating applied. These slide into place over the axles behind the journal boxes on the car being restored on our TMS project, Milwaukee Electric 972.

Windows

The crew was in high gear this weekend doing work on Cleveland Transit System 4223. Here, Lorne Tweed is using the torch to apply heat and to remove bound up screws in a window frame. This will allow replacement of damaged glass and weatherstripping.

Window Tracks

Out in the barn, Eric Lorenz was busy drilling and tapping many holes in the window posts, ready to install the tracks for these windsows. I forget - was it 34 holes done, 382 to go?

And Painting

Never a minute wasted! Lorne moved on to prime painting many of the parts that have been cleaned over the last few work days. These are pedestals, sort of a truncated pyramid in shape, that fasten to the roof of the car for ultimately holding the many next layers of parts and finally, the trolley base and pole.

Sanding

Ray Schmid was out inside Barn 4 on a scaffold where he was sanding and doing finish work on the roof of Michigan Electric 28. What great weather for this work - 90 degrees at ground level and probably 105 up close under the metal roof.

Bending

Jeff Brady resumed the fussy work of bending and installing thin basswood slats for the rounded roof at the back end of the 28. Here he is engineering the curvature and bends for each custom fitted slat.

Thursday, May 17. 2012

Rich Witt is back in the shop and very productive, as ever. Here he has made a new drawing and is laying out the needed cuts to make what we call dust shields for the TM 972 trucks. These are wood inserts that fit over the axles and behind the wheels to keep debris out of the journal boxes.

All Cut Up

All of the blanks needed (eight) are made up with the next step to bore four inch diameter holes in them.

Taking Shape

The iconic Great Northern herald is taking shape on the right side of our hopper, GN 70104. About another hour of painting will do it, completing all lettering on the right side. Then, on to complete the left side.

Cutting

Victor Humphreys completed cutting a slot in the next section of rusted out car sides on our wagon top boxcar, B&O 374065. Buzz Morisette brought in some artwork samples for choosing size and fonts to begin cutting the patterns for the lettering.

Fuse Box

The crew was busy on Cleveland Transit System 4223. Here is a shot of a fuse box to be mounted on the roof, after cleanup and restoration. They were busy on several other tasks, not pictured here.

Snapshot in Time

Henry Vincent and Gerry Dettloff look over the large restored photo mural of a Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive. Plans are underway to return it to the depot as one of our exhibits.

Inspection

Father and son team, Randy and Frank Hicks are in the final stages of inspecting CA&E 309, something we do every year for every operating car. CA&E 309 has just come off the pit and looks great out in the sun.

Side Door Trimmings

Gerry Dettloff shows the state of progress on Lake Shore Electric 810. George Clark is leading this project with help from others including Gerry and Henry Vincent.

Illuminating

Pete Galayda and John Nelligan continue restoration of the steeple cab locomotive, Charles City Western 300. Here they are working on a headlight resistance box, something allowing the head light(s) to operate.

And of course this was only part of the activity. What is that SOUND? Not making much of a picture, we heard a melodious thrumming coming from Chicago & West Towns 141. The car was 'hot' with 600 volts and the air compressor was working away. It had been tested for a short burst previously, but today ran for an extended period, checking for leaks, checking the cut in and cut out pressure settings on the governor, working the valves. A few minor leaks will need attention, but smiles all around at the end of the day.

Monday, May 14. 2012

Volunteer Frank Carraro has been working to update the bay window desk in our depot to accurately portray a Train Order Station. Here, he has just re-installed several telegraph 'instruments' and the resonator. They are beautifully restored and are in working condition. If anyone out there wants to donate a pad of old train order forms, they would indeed be useful in this new display. We have a supply of the once common double sided carbon paper that was used for copying train orders.

Trolley Base

Eric Lorenz is working with new volunteers Stan and Tom Bernacki on dismantling the old trolley base from the roof boards. This is the equipment that was on the Cleveland 4223 when it arrived from Toronto. We also have some of that area that was salvaged from a Boston PCC. Neither of them appear to be 100% accurate for this car as it was in service in Cleveland.

Stuff

On to the quiz and prize portion of the program. What are we looking at here? OK, I give up. This is some of the electrical equipment that must be restored and then roof mounted adjacent to the trolley pole spring base (seen above) and before the hot lead goes down into the car body. There is a large capacitor which serves as a lightning arrestor, a coiled length of wire which serves to provide the inductance, a fuse box in serious disrepair, and two deteriorated wood planks which served as trolley boards on the roof.

Paint

Victor Humphreys is applying primer to areas of the side of the B&O wagon top boxcar. Most of this area was wire brushed and cleaned by the famous TWO BERNACKIS. Actually, those new volunteers asked to help on this work. Welcome and thanks, fellas.

FACES IN THE NEWS - - - -

Conductor

Our reliable shop worker, Rich Witt, looks pretty spiffy as he dons the apparel and volunteers in train service on our operating railroad.

Time Warp

Saturday was Scout Day at IRM and several docent led tours and events were being held. I happened to see this elegant lady from another time and place. Actually, Nancy Ring greeting visitors before they went on tours inside our private Pullman cars.

Thursday, May 10. 2012

Simon Harrison is showing us one of four pedestals used on CTS 4223 for mounting the trolley pole to the roof. It seems an odd and maybe overcomplicated system to an old guy like me, not used to working on anything newer than 1940. Anyway we are moving along to get a trolley pole mounted to the car. These parts were salvaged from a car to be scrapped by cutting out an entire section of the roof where they were mounted. Needless to say there was some torch work, grunting, and cussing. But there are now the needed four of these, cleaned up and ready for paint.

Frank Sirinek was using the air powered needle chipper to remove many layers of paint from the metal fittings on the running boards of Vera Cruz 19, our operating open car.

Windows

Randy Hicks and Rich Witt were working on refinishing window sash for CA&E 36. Dusty work and fussy work, not too glamorous. We are lucky to have tireless volunteers like Rich Witt who are willing to work on any task at hand.

Parts

Tim Peters was doing some "hot work" with the torch as he continues for needed parts for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797. Burn off those rusty bolts, Tim. You may have read elsewhere on the web that Tim is working on a mate for a wood L car in the 1200 series to match and go with the 1268 which he completed about a year ago. Not exactly. The 1268 is a control trailer and not motorized. The 1797 was at one early point also a trailer but was modernized and converted to a motor car, a completely different design and series. But both are painted brown.

Monday, May 7. 2012

Here is the herald by the end of Saturday. Two more letters and the outer circle which really defines this and makes it recognizable. Not a lot of square inches covered by white paint, but a LOT of really fussy hand painting. There was some good news, as I fretted a few days after my last post where there appeared to be a smear of white paint to the right of the N in NORTHERN. No smear! Just a reflection of the flash used for the photo.

Side Cutting

Our intrepid Victor Humphreys largely keeps his head down and stays below the radar. In recent weeks a lot of effort was put in outdoors on the restoration of our B&O wagon top boxcar. A sure sign of spring. The interior has had stored materials relocated and repositioned to allow work on the next quarter of the sides. Nothing to see there folks, please move along. This week he accomplished slotting and cutting work for ultimate removal and replacement of damaged and rusted out side panels.

Open Car

Mike Stauber and Frank Sirinek are shown by Vera Cruz 19, our operating open car. Last year almost all the seats were repaired and refinished, and so far this spring the floor and traps have been repainted. It really looks GOOD! Hmmm, I wonder if that is the right color? Maybe I should keep my mouth shut.

The Old Grind

Eric Lorenz continued the amazing work and progress on out Cleveland Transit System PCC, 4223. Here he is removing old paint and crud from a fabricated bar plate that is part of the needed support for adding the trolley pole.

Trolley Boards

From here on, the report is all Rapid Transit, all the time. Tim Peters has fabricated new trolley boards for the roof of CRT 1797 and is just finishing the second coat of paint.

Interior

Largely unremarked, Frank Kehoe is restoring much of the interior of the same car. There is a LOT of work here, and trust me, a lot has been accomplished. Thanks, Frank.

More Windows

Every report here within memory has mentioned window work. I thought we were going to break the pattern but at the last minute I noticed Buzz Morisette restoring a window for Chicago Rapid Transit 1797. Earlier in the day Buzz had repaired a pattern/form for the steam department. And of course all the other work I failed to capture. Maybe we should sell a shop access admission and let folks stroll from project to project, fascinated at the work and with mouths drooping open. I could spend a day like that. Insurance? Nah.

Friday, May 4. 2012

Selfishly, I will show this here, as we continue to handpaint the famous "ROCKY" Great Northern herald on the right side of our hopper car, GN 70104. It may seem a random act but trust me there is method to the madness. The white needs two coats and that has been done on the goat and the four lower letters. Stay Tuned.

Exsiding

Here is Lake Shore Electric 810 with the last of the new siding in place. Both sides and ends!

Clear Coat

We would like to welcome back Mr. Richard Witt to the shop work, following knee replacement surgery. We all missed you Rich. Here he is applying clear coat to aluminum sash windows from Cleveland Transit System 4223, after they have been cleaned up.

Benchwork

Jim Leonard was caught in the act of installing pieces of sheet metal for the rear seat bench and surrounding wall panels in the 4223.

Corner Piece

Jim has just done the final fitting on this piece of corner trim, and is on his way to the car. Also on this project, we missed getting a pic of Simon Harrison who was laboring on cleanup of STILL MORE window track pieces.

Parts

Henry Vincent was finding new treasures in a cache of parts and fasteners donated and sent by a member in Ohio. A belated thank you, Charley.

There was still more car work being done on several projects including the CCW 300 steeple cab locomotive, CRT 1797 rapid transit car, and other work I am failing to recognize.

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Comments

Nigel Bennett about Steam Department Update June 2015Wed, 07-29-2015 07:42Subject to the general caveat that
a 100 year old steam engine can
always develop a last minute fault,
it is planned that #1630 will
operate 8/1 and [...]

CincyCubfan23 about Steam Department Update June 2015Wed, 07-29-2015 06:28Nigel - First, THANK YOU for all
the work you do (and everyone else
at IRM, for that matter)!
I believe I know the answer, but
I'll ask anyhow. [...]

Nathan about Steam Department Update June 2015Mon, 07-27-2015 16:26Nigel,
All matters of practicality do
indeed have to be taken into
consideration.
That said, as another suggestion,
you may want to talk to your [...]

Nigel Bennett about Steam Department Update June 2015Mon, 07-27-2015 07:38Nathan,
All ideas to be considered and
depends on how this year turns
out.
The big reason we run Thomas over
the route we do is the space [...]

Nathan about Steam Department Update June 2015Sun, 07-26-2015 19:24Hi Nigel,
Just noticed the comments and plans
for Thomas on this thread and am
intrigued.
It seems like a great idea to have
#1630 push the Percy [...]

Nigel Bennett about Steam Department Update June 2015Sun, 07-26-2015 09:41Andrew,
No. The Thomas train will follow
its normal route.
There will be two event trains, the
Thomas train and the Percy train
(standard DOWT [...]

Nigel Bennett about Steam Department Update June 2015Sat, 07-25-2015 08:45Peter,
The Thomas days will be
significantly different this year.
There will be a Percy train as well
as a Thomas train and, subject to
the [...]

Peter D. about Steam Department Update June 2015Fri, 07-24-2015 23:51Greetings: Quick question regarding
steam operations...In addition to
Thomas, when would you expect a
steam locomotive to be on the
tacks. Thanks.